RATIONAL NUMBERS 17 3

9.1 I NTRODUCTI ON
You began your study of numbers by counting objects around you.
The numbers used for this purpose were called counting numbers or
natural numbers. They are 1, 2, 3, 4, ... By including 0 to natural
numbers, we got the whole numbers, i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, ... The negatives
of natural numbers were then put together with whole numbers to make
up integers. Integers are ..., 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, .... We, thus, extended
the number system, from natural numbers to whole numbers and from
whole numbers to integers.
You were also introduced to fractions. These are numbers of the form
numerator
denominator
,
where the numerator is either 0 or a positive integer and the denominator, a positive integer.
You compared two fractions, found their equivalent forms and studied all the four basic
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on them.
In this Chapter, we shall extend the number system further. We shall introduce the concept
of rational numbers alongwith their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations.
9.2 NEED FOR RATI ONAL NUMBERS
Earlier, we have seen how integers could be used to denote opposite situations involving
numbers. For example, if the distance of 3 km to the right of a place was denoted by 3, then
the distance of 5 km to the left of the same place could be denoted by 5. If a profit of Rs 150
was represented by 150 then a loss of Rs 100 could be written as 100.
There are many situations similar to the above situations that involve fractional numbers.
You can represent a distance of 750m above sea level as
3
4
km. Can we represent 750m
below sea level in km? Can we denote the distance of
3
4
km below sea level by
3
4
? We can
see
3
4
is neither an integer, nor a fractional number. We need to extend our number system
to include such numbers.
C
h
a
p
t
e
r


9
Rat i onal
Number s

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 17 4
9.3 WHAT ARE RATI ONAL NUMBERS?
The word rational arises from the term ratio. You know that a ratio like 3:2 can also be
written as
3
2
. Here, 3 and 2 are natural numbers.
Similarly, the ratio of two integers p and q (q 0), i.e., p:q can be written in the form
p
q
. This is the form in which rational numbers are expressed.
A rational number is defined as a number that can be expressed in the
form
p
q
, where p and q are integers and q 0.
Thus,
4
5
is a rational number. Here, p = 4 and q = 5.
Is
3
4
also a rational number? Yes, because p = 3 and q = 4 are integers.
l You have seen many fractions like
3 4 2
, ,1
8 8 3
etc. All fractions are rational
numbers. Can you say why?
How about the decimal numbers like 0.5, 2.3, etc.? Each of such numbers can be
written as an ordinary fraction and, hence, are rational numbers. For example, 0.5 =
5
10
,
0.333 =
333
1000
etc.
1. Is the number
2
3
rational? Think about it. 2. List ten rational numbers.
Numer at or and Denomi nat or
In
p
q
, the integer p is the numerator, and the integer q ( 0) is the denominator..
Thus, in
3
7
, the numerator is 3 and the denominator is 7.
Mention five rational numbers each of whose
(a) Numerator is a negative integer and denominator is a positive integer.
(b) Numerator is a positive integer and denominator is a negative integer.
(c) Numerator and denominator both are negative integers.
(d) Numerator and denominator both are positive integers.
l Are integers also rational numbers?
Any integer can be thought of as a rational number. For example, the integer 5 is a
rational number, because you can write it as
5
1
. The integer 0 can also be written as
0 0
0 or
2 7
=
etc. Hence, it is also a rational number..
Thus, rational numbers include integers and fractions.
TRY THESE

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 17 5
Equi val ent r at i onal number s
A rational number can be written with different numerators and denominators. For example,
consider the rational number
2
3
.
2
3
=
2 2 4
3 2 6
=
. We see that
2
3
is the same as
4
6
.
Also,
2
3
=
( ) ( )
( )
2 5 10
3 5 15
= . So,
2
3
is also the same as
10
15
.
Thus,
2
3
=
4
6
=
10
15
. Such rational numbers that are equal to each other are said to
be equivalent to each other.
Again,
10
15
=
10
15

(How?)
By multiplying the numerator and denominator of a rational
number by the same non zero integer, we obtain another rational
number equivalent to the given rational number. This is exactly like
obtaining equivalent fractions.
Just as multiplication, the division of the numerator and denominator
by the same non zero integer, also gives equivalent rational numbers. For
example,
10
15
=
( )
( )
10 5 2
15 5 3

,
12
24
=
12 12 1
24 12 2

We write
2 2 10 10
as , as
3 3 15 15
, etc.
9.4 POSI TI VE AND NEGATI VE RATI ONAL NUMBERS
Consider the rational number
2
3
. Both the numerator and denominator of this number are
positive integers. Such a rational number is called apositive rational number. So,
3 5 2
, ,
8 7 9
etc. are positive rational number.
The numerator of
3
5
is a negative integer, whereas the denominator
is a positive integer. Such a rational number is called a negative rational
number. So,
5 3 9
, ,
7 8 5
etc. are negative rational numbers.
TRY THESE
Fill in the boxes:
(i)
5 25 15
4 16
= = =
(ii)
3 9 6
7 14
= = =
TRY THESE
1. Is 5 a positive rational
number?
2. List five more positive
rational numbers.

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 17 6
l Is
8
3
a negative rational number? We know that
8
3
=
8 1
3 1

=
8
3

,
and
8
3

is a negative rational number. So,

8
3
is a negative rational number. .
Similarly,
5 6 2
, ,
7 5 9
etc. are all negative rational numbers. Note that their
numerators are positive and their denominators negative.
l The number 0 is neither a positive nor a negative rational number.
l What about
3
5
?
You will see that
3 3 (1) 3
5 5 (1) 5

= =

. So,
3
5
is a positive rational number. .
Thus,
2 5
,
5 3
etc. are positive rational numbers.
Which of these are negative rational numbers?
(i)
2
3
(ii)
5
7
(iii)
3
5
(iv) 0 (v)
6
11
(vi)
2
9
9.5 RATI ONAL NUMBERS ON A NUMBER LI NE
You know how to represent integers on a number line. Let us draw one such number line.
The points to the right of 0 are denoted by + sign and are positive integers. The points
to the left of 0 are denoted by sign and are negative integers.
Representation of fractions on a number line is also known to you.
Let us see how the rational numbers can be represented on a number line.
Let us represent the number
1
2

on the number line.

As done in the case of positive integers, the positive rational numbers would be marked
on the right of 0 and the negative rational numbers would be marked on the left of 0.
To which side of 0 will you mark
1
2

? Being a negative rational number, it would be

marked to the left of 0.
You know that while marking integers on the number line, successive integers are
marked at equal intervels. Also, from 0, the pair 1 and 1 is equidistant. So are the pairs 2
and 2, 3 and 3.
TRY THESE
1. Is 8 a negative
rational number?
2. List five more
negative rational
numbers.
TRY THESE

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 17 7
In the same way, the rational numbers
1
2
and
1
2

would be at equal distance from 0.

We know how to mark the rational number
1
2
. It is marked at a point which is half the
distance between 0 and 1. So,
1
2

would be marked at a point half the distance between

0 and 1.
We know how to mark
3
2
on the number line. It is marked on the right of 0 and lies
halfway between 1 and 2. Let us now mark
3
2

on the number line. It lies on the left of 0

and is at the same distance as
3
2
from 0.
In decreasing order, we have,
1 2
, ( 1)
2 2

=
,
3 4
, ( 2)
2 2

=
. This shows that
3
2

lies between 1 and 2. Thus,

3
2

lies halfway between 1 and 2.

Mark
5
2

and
7
2

in a similar way..
Similarly,
1
3

is to the left of zero and at the same distance from zero as

1
3
is to the
right. So as done above,
1
3

can be represented on the number line. Once we know how

to represent
1
3

on the number line, we can go on representing

2 4 5
, ,
3 3 3

and so on.
All other rational numbers with different denominators can be represented in a similar way.
9.6 RATI ONAL NUMBERS I N STANDARD FORM
Observe the rational numbers
3 5 2 7
, , ,
5 8 7 11

.
The denominators of these rational numbers are positive integers and 1 is
the only common factor between the numerators and denominators. Further,
the negative sign occurs only in the numerator.
Such rational numbers are said to be in standard form.
3
2

( )
2
1
2

=
1
2

( )
0
0
2
=
1
2
( )
2
1
2
=
3
2
( )
4
2
2
= ( )
4
2
2

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 17 8
A rational number is said to be in the standard form if its denominator is a
positive integer and the numerator and denominator have no common factor other
than 1.
If a rational number is not in the standard form, then it can be reduced to the
standard form.
Recall that for reducing fractions to their lowest forms, we divided the numerator and
the denominator of the fraction by the same non zero positive integer. We shall use the
same method for reducing rational numbers to their standard form.
EXAMPLE 1 Reduce
45
30
to the standard form.
SOLUTI ON We have,
45 45 3 15 15 5 3
30 30 3 10 10 5 2

= = = =

We had to divide twice. First time by 3 and then by 5. This could also be done as
45 45 15 3
30 30 15 2

= =

In this example, note that 15 is the HCF of 45 and 30.

Thus, to reduce the rational number to its standard form, we divide its numerator
and denominator by their HCF ignoring the negative sign, if any. (The reason for
ignoring the negative sign will be studied in Higher Classes)
If there is negative sign in the denominator, divide by HCF.
EXAMPLE 2 Reduce to standard form:
(i)
36
24
(ii)
3
15
SOLUTI ON
(i) The HCF of 36 and 24 is 12.
Thus, its standard form would be obtained by dividing by 12.
36 36 (12) 3
24 24 (12) 2

= =

(ii) The HCF of 3 and 15 is 3.

Thus,
3 3 (3) 1
15 15 (3) 5

= =

Find the standard form of (i)

18
45
(ii)
12
18
TRY THESE

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 17 9
9.7 COMPARI SON OF RATI ONAL NUMBERS
We know how to compare two integers or two fractions and tell which is smaller or which
is greater among them. Let us now see how we can compare two rational numbers.
l Two positive rational numbers, like
2 5
and
3 7
can be compared as studied earlier in the
case of fractions.
l Mary compared two negative rational numbers
1
2

and
1
5

using number line. She

knew that the integer which was on the right side of the other integer, was the greater
integer.
For example, 5 is to the right of 2 on the number line and 5 > 2. The integer 2 is on
the right of 5 on the number line and 2 > 5.
She used this method for rational numbers also. She knew how to mark rational numbers
on the number line. She marked
1
2

and
1
5

as follows:
Has she correctly marked the two points? How and why did she convert
1
2

to
5
10

and
1
5

to
2
10

? She found that

1
5

is to the right of
1
2

. Thus,
1
5

>
1
2

or
1
2

<
1
5

.
Can you compare
3
4

and
2
3

?
1
3

and
1
5

?
We know from our study of fractions that
1
5
<
1
2
. And what did Mary get for
1
2

and
1
5

? Was it not exactly the opposite?

You will find that,
1
2
>
1
5
but
1
2

<
1
5

.
Do you observe the same for
3
4

,
2
3

and
1
3

,
1
5

?
Mary remembered that in integers she had studied 4 > 3
but 4 < 3, 5 > 2 but 5 < 2 etc.
1 5
2 10

=
1 2
5 10

=

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 18 0
l The case of pairs of negative rational numbers is similar. To compare two negative
rational numbers, we compare them ignoring their negative signs and then reverse
the order.
For example, to compare
7
5

and
5
3

, we first compare
7
5
and
5
3
.
We get
7
5
<
5
3
and conclude that
7 5
>
5 3
.
Take five more such pairs and compare them.
Which is greater
3
8

or
2
7

?;
4
3

or
3
2

?
l Comparison of a negative and a positive rational number is obvious. A negative rational
number is to the left of zero whereas a positive rational number is to the right of zero on
a number line. So, a negative rational number will always be less than a positive rational
number.
Thus,
2 1
<
7 2
.
l To compare rational numbers
3 2
and
5 7


reduce them to their standard forms and
then compare them.
EXAMPLE 3 Do
4
9
and
16
36

represent the same rational number?

SOLUTI ON Yes, because
4 4 ( 4) 16 16 16 4 4
or
9 9 ( 4) 36 36 36 4 9

= = = =

.
9.8 RATI ONAL NUMBERS BETWEEN TWO RATI ONAL NUMBERS
Reshma wanted to count the whole numbers between 3 and 10. From her earlier classes,
she knew there would be exactly 6 whole numbers between 3 and 10. Similarly, she
wanted to know the total number of integers between 3 and 3. The integers between 3
and 3 are 2, 1, 0, 1, 2. Thus, there are exactly 5 integers between 3 and 3.
Are there any integers between 3 and 2? No, there is no integer between
3 and 2. Between two successive integers the number of integers is 0.

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 18 1
Thus, we find that number of integers between two integers are limited (finite).
Will the same happen in the case of rational numbers also?
Reshma took two rational numbers
3 1
and
5 3
.
She converted them to rational numbers with same denominators.
So
3 9 1 5
and
5 15 3 15
= =
We have
9 8 7 6 5
15 15 15 15 15
< < < <
or
3 8 7 6 1
5 15 15 15 3
< < < <
She could find rational numbers
8 7 6
, ,
15 15 15
between
3 1
and
5 3

.
Are the numbers
8 7 6
, ,
15 15 15

the only rational numbers between
3 1
and
5 3

?
We have
3 18 8 16
and
5 30 15 30
= =
And
18 17 16
30 30 30
< <
. i.e.,
3 17 8
5 30 15
< <
Hence
3 17 8 7 6 1
5 30 15 15 15 3
< < < < <
So, we could find one more rational number between
3 1
and
5 3
.
By using this method, you can insert as many rational numbers as you want between
two rational numbers.
For example,
3 3 30 90 1 1 50 50
and
5 5 30 150 3 3 50 150

= = = =

We get 39 rational numbers
89 51
, ...,
150 150




between
90 50
and
150 150
i.e., between
3 1
and
5 3
. You will find that the list is unending.
Can you list five rational numbers between
5 8
and
3 7
?
We can find unlimited number of rational numbers between any two
rational numbers.
TRY THESE
Find five rational numbers
between
5 3
and
7 8

.

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 18 2
EXAMPLE 4 List three rational numbers between 2 and 1.
SOLUTI ON Let us write 1 and 2 as rational numbers with denominator 5. (Why?)
We have, 1 =
5
5

and 2 =
10
5

So,
10 9 8 7 6 5
5 5 5 5 5 5
< < < < <
or
9 8 7 6
2 1
5 5 5 5
< < < < <
The three rational numbers between 2 and 1 would be,
9 8 7
, ,
5 5 5

(You can take any three of
9 8 7 6
, , ,
5 5 5 5
)
EXAMPLE 5 Write four more numbers in the following pattern:
1 2 3 4
, , , ,...
3 6 9 12

SOLUTI ON We have,
2 1 2 3 1 3 4 1 4
, ,
6 3 2 9 3 3 12 3 4

= = =

or
1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 4 4
, , ,
3 1 3 3 2 6 3 3 9 3 4 12

= = = =

Thus, we observe a pattern in these numbers.
The other numbers would be
1 5 5 1 6 6 1 7 7
, ,
3 5 15 3 6 18 3 7 21

= = =

.
EXERCI SE 9.1
1. List five rational numbers between:
(i) 1 and 0 (ii) 2 and 1 (iii)
4 2
and
5 3

(iv)
1 2
and
2 3
2. Write four more rational numbers in each of the following patterns:
(i)
3 6 9 12
, , , ,.....
5 10 15 20

(ii)
1 2 3
, , ,.....
4 8 12

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 18 3
(iii)
1 2 3 4
, , , ,.....
6 12 18 24

(iv)
2 2 4 6
, , , ,.....
3 3 6 9

3. Give four rational numbers equivalent to:
(i)
2
7

(ii)
5
3
(iii)
4
9
4. Draw the number line and represent the following rational numbers on it:
(i)
3
4
(ii)
5
8

(iii)
7
4

(iv)
7
8
5. The points P, Q, R, S, T, U, A and B on the number line are such that, TR = RS = SU
and AP = PQ = QB. Name the rational numbers represented by P, Q, R and S.
6. Which of the following pairs represent the same rational number?
(i)
7 3
and
21 9

(ii)
16 20
and
20 25

(iii)
2 2
and
3 3

(iv)
3 12
and
5 20

(v)
8 24
and
5 15

(vi)
1 1
and
3 9

(vii)
5 5
and
9 9

7. Rewrite the following rational numbers in the simplest form:
(i)
8
6

(ii)
25
45
(iii)
44
72

(iv)
8
10

8. Fill in the boxes with the correct symbol out of >, <, and =.
(i)
5 2
7 3

(ii)
4 5
5 7

(iii)
7 14
8 16

(iv)
8 7
5 4

(v)
1 1
3 4

(vi)
5 5
11 11

(vii)
7
0
6

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 18 4
9. Which is greater in each of the following:
(i)
2 5
,
3 2
(ii)
5 4
,
6 3

(iii)
3 2
,
4 3

(iv)
1 1
,
4 4

(v)
2 4
3 , 3
7 5

10. Write the following rational numbers in ascending order:
(i)
3 2 1
, ,
5 5 5

(ii)
1 2 4
, ,
3 9 3

(iii)
3 3 3
, ,
7 2 4

9.9 OPERATI ONS ON RATI ONAL NUMBERS
You know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide integers as well as fractions. Let us
now study these basic operations on rational numbers.
9.9.1 Addi t i on
l Let us add two rational numbers with same denominators, say
7 5
and
3 3

.
We find
7 5
3 3

+


On the number line, we have:
The distance between two consecutive points is
1
3
. So adding
5
3

to
7
3
will
mean, moving to the left of
7
3
, making 5 jumps. Where do we reach? We reach at
2
3
.
So,
7 5 2
3 3 3

+ =


.
Let us now try this way:
( ) ( ) 5 7 5 7 2
3 3 3 3
+
+ = =
We get the same answer.
Find
( ) ( ) 2 5 6 3
,
5 5 7 7

+ + in both ways and check if you get the same answers.
3
3
2
3
1
3
0
3
1
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
5
3
6
3
7
3
8
3

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 18 5
Similarly,
7 5
8 8

+
would be
What do you get?
Also,
7 5 7 5
?
8 8 8
+
+ = =
Are the two values same?
So, we find that while adding rational numbers with same denominators, we add
the numerators keeping the denominators same.
Thus,
11 7 11 7 4
5 5 5 5
+
+ = =
l How do we add rational numbers with different denominators? As in the case of
fractions, we first find the LCM of the two denominators. Then, we find the equivalent
rational numbers of the given rational numbers with this LCM as the denominator.
Then, add the two rational numbers.
For example, let us add
7 2
and
5 3

.
LCM of 5 and 3 is 15.
So,
7 21 2 10
and
5 15 3 15

= =
Thus,
( ) ( ) 2 10 7 21
5 3 15 15

+ = +
31
15

=
Addi t i ve I nver se
What will be
4 4
?
7 7

+ =
4 4 4 4
0
7 7 7
+
+ = = . Also,
4 4
0
7 7

+ =


.
TRY THESE
Find:
13 6
7 7

+ ,
19 7
5 5

+
TRY THESE
Find:
(i)
3 2
7 3

+
(ii)
3 2 5 3
,
7 3 6 11

+ +
7
8
6
8
5
8
4
8
3
8
2
8
1
8
0
8
1
8
2
8
3
8
5
8
4
8

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 18 6
Similarly,
2 2 2 2
0
3 3 3 3

+ = = +


.
In the case of integers, we call 2 as the additive inverse
of 2 and 2 as the additive inverse of 2.
For rational numbers also, we call
4
7

as the additive
inverse of
4
7
and
4
7
as the additive inverse of
4
7

. Similarly,,
2
3

is the additive inverse of

2
3
and
2
3
is the additive inverse of
2
3

.
What will be the additive inverse of
3 9 5
?, ?, ?
9 11 7

EXAMPLE 6 Satpal walks
2
3
km from a place P, towards east and then from there
5
1
7
km towards west. Where will he be now from P?
SOLUTI ON Let us denote the distance travelled towards east by positive sign. So,
the distances towards west would be denoted by negative sign.
Thus, distance of Satpal from the point P would be
2 5
1
3 7

+


=
( ) ( ) 12 12 3 2 2 7
3 7 3 7 7 3

+ = +

=
14 36 22
21 21

=
1
1
21
=
Since it is negative, it means Satpal is at a distance
1
1
21
km towards west of P..
9.9.2 Subt r act i on
Savita found the difference of two rational numbers
5 3
and
7 8
in this way:
5 3
7 8

=
40 21 19
56 56

=
Farida knew that for two integers a and b she could write a b = a + ( b)
TRY THESE
P

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 18 7
She tried this for rational numbers also and found,
( ) 3 5 3 5 19
7 8 7 8 56

= + = .
Both obtained the same difference.
Try to find
7 5 3 8
,
8 9 11 7

in both ways. Did you get the same answer?
So, we say while subtracting two rational numbers, we add the additive inverse of
the rational number that is being subtracted, to the other rational number.
Thus,
2 4 5 14
1 2
3 5 3 5
= =
5
3
+ additive inverse of
( ) 14 14 5
5 3 5

= +
17 2
1
15 15

= =
.
What will be
2 5
?
7 6

2 5 2
7 6 7

= +


additive inverse of
5
6



2 5 47 5
1
7 6 42 42
= + = =
9.9.3 Mul t i pl i cat i on
Let us multiply the rational number
3
5

by 2, i.e., we find
3
2
5

.
On the number line, it will mean two jumps of
3
5
to the left.
Where do we reach? We reach at
6
5

. Let us find it as we did in fractions.

3 3 2 6
2
5 5 5

= =
We arrive at the same rational number.
Find
4 6
3, 4
7 5

using both ways. What do you observe?
TRY THESE
Find:
(i)
7 2
9 5

(ii)
( ) 1 1
2
5 3

6
5
5
5
4
5
3
5
2
5
1
5
0
( 0)
5
=
1
5
2
5
3
5

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 18 8
So, we find that while multiplying a rational number by a positive integer, we
multiply the numerator by that integer, keeping the denominator unchanged.
Let us now multiply a rational number by a negative integer,
2
( 5)
9

=
2( 5) 10
9 9

=
Remember, 5 can be written as
5
5
1

=
.
So,
2 5

9 1

=
( ) 2 5 10
9 91

=
Similarly,
3
( 2)
11
=
3 ( 2) 6
111 11

=
Based on these observations, we find that,
3 5 3 5 15
8 7 8 7 56

= =

So, as we did in the case of fractions, we multiply two rational numbers in the
following way:
Step 1 Multiply the numerators of the two rational numbers.
Step 2 Multiply the denominators of the two rational numbers.
Step 3 Write the product as
Result of Step 1
Result of Step 2
Thus,
3 2 3 2 6
5 7 5 7 35

= =

.
Also,
5 9 5 ( 9) 45
8 7 8 7 56

= =

9.9.4 Di vi si on
We have studied reciprocals of a fraction earlier. What is the reciprocal of
2
7
? It will be
7
2
. We extend this idea of reciprocals to rational numbers also.
The reciprocal of
2
7

will be
7
2
i.e.,
7
2

; that of
3
5

would be
5
3

.
TRY THESE
What will be
( )
3 6
(i) 7? (ii) 2 ?
5 5


Find:
(i)
3 1
4 7

(ii)
2 5
3 9

TRY THESE

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 18 9
What will be the reciprocal of
6 8
? and ?
11 5

Pr oduct of r eci pr ocal s
The product of a rational number with its reciprocal is always 1.
For example,
4 4
reciprocal of
9 9

=
4 9
1
9 4
=
Similarly,
6 13

13 6
= 1
Try some more examples and confirm this observation.
Savita divided a rational number
4
9
by another rational number
5
7

as,
4 5 4 7 28
9 7 9 5 45

= =

.
She used the idea of reciprocal as done in fractions.
Arpit first divided
4
9
by
5
7
and got
28
45
.
He finally said
4 5 28
9 7 45

=
. How did he get that?
He divided them as fractions, ignoring the negative sign and then put the negative sign
in the value so obtained.
Both of them got the same value
28
45

. Try dividing
2
3
by
5
7

both ways and see if

you get the same answer.
This shows, to divide one rational number by the other rational numbers we
multiply the rational number by the reciprocal of the other.
Thus,
6 2 6 2 6 3 18
reciprocal of
5 3 5 3 5 2 10

= = =



TRY THESE

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 19 0
EXERCI SE 9.2
1. Find the sum:
(i)
5 11
4 4

+


(ii)
5 3
3 5
+
(iii)
9 22
10 15

+
(iv)
3 5
11 9

(v)
( ) 2 8
19 57

+ (vi)
2
0
3

+
(vii)
1 3
2 4
3 5
+
2. Find
(i)
7 17
24 36

(ii)
5 6
63 21

(iii)
6 7
13 15

(iv)
3 7
8 11

(v)
1
2 6
9

3. Find the product:
(i)
9 7
2 4

(ii)
( )
3
9
10
(iii)
6 9
5 11

(iv)
3 2
7 5

(v)
3 2
11 5

(vi)
3 5
5 3

4. Find the value of:

(i)
2
( 4)
3

(ii)
3
2
5

(iii)
( )
4
3
5

(iv)
1 3
8 4

(v)
2 1
13 7

(vi)
7 2
12 13

(vii)
3 4
13 65

TRY THESE
Find: (i)
2 7
3 8

(ii)
6 5
7 7

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
RATIONAL NUMBERS 19 1
WHAT HAVE WE DI SCUSSED?
1. A number that can be expressed in the form
p
q
, where p and q are integers and
q

0, is called a rational number. The numbers
2 3
, ,3
7 8

etc. are rational numbers.

2. All integers and fractions are rational numbers.
3. If the numerator and denominator of a rational number are multiplied or divided by a
non-zero integer, we get a rational number which is said to be equivalent to the given
rational number. For example
3 3 2 6
7 7 2 14

= =

. So, we say
6
14

is the equivalent
form of
3
7

. Also note that

6 6 2 3
14 14 2 7

= =

.
4. Rational numbers are classified as Positive and Negative rational numbers. When the
numerator and denominator, both, are positive integers, it is a positive rational number.
When either the numerator or the denominator is a negative integer, it is a negative
rational number. For example,
3
8
is a positive rational number whereas
8
9

is a
negative rational number.
5. The number 0 is neither a positive nor a negative rational number.
6. A rational number is said to be in the standard form if its denominator is a positive
integer and the numerator and denominator have no common factor other than 1.
The numbers
1 2
,
3 7

etc. are in standard form.

7. There are unlimited number of rational numbers between two rational numbers.
8. Two rational numbers with the same denominator can be added by adding their
numerators, keeping the denominator same. Two rational numbers with different
denominators are added by first taking the LCM of the two denominators and
then converting both the rational numbers to their equivalent forms having the
LCM as the denominator. For example,
2 3 16 9 16 9 7
3 8 24 24 24 24
+
+ = + = = . Here,
LCM of 3 and 8 is 24.
9. While subtracting two rational numbers, we add the additive inverse of the rational
number to be subtracted to the other rational number.
Thus,
7 2 7 2
additive inverse of
8 3 8 3
= + =
7 ( 2) 21 ( 16) 5
8 3 24 24
+
+ = = .

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d
MATHEMATICS 19 2
10. To multiply two rational numbers, we multiply their numerators and denominators
separately, and write the product as
product of numerators
.
product of denominators
11. To divide one rational number by the other non-zero rational number, we multiply the
rational number by the reciprocal of the other. Thus,
7 4 7
2 3 2

=
(reciprocal of
4
3
)
7 3 21

2 4 8

= = .

N
C
E
R
T
n
o
t

t
o

b
e

r
e
p
u
b
l
i
s
h
e
d